"Consequently, we have a very short supply of lemons at the moment and that's why the prices are high in the supermarket," Mr Doecke said.

He said most lemons in South Australia were picked in July and August but they picked up to five times a year, including at minor picking times.

Mr Cant said lemon consumption was increasing and traditionally, Christmas was a high-demand period.

"Unfortunately this is just the time of the year, due to mother nature, where we can't produce enough lemons," he said.

"Lemon trees yield most of their crop in winter, so high availability is through March to October."

Prices expected to fall, more trees being planted

Marketing and business development manager for SA Produce Market Nadia Boscaini said they were currently selling lemons from the Adelaide Hills but were expecting to see prices fall when ample supplies from Queensland came onto the market.

Mr Cant said Queensland lemon growers would start picking in February and once the fruit came onto the market, prices were expected to drop immediately.

And with lemon consumption increasing, so is production across Australia.

Mr Doecke said across the southern growing region in the past three years farmers had seen about a 30 per cent increase in the area planted with lemon trees.

"There are a lot of lemons that have gone in so as they come into production, supply will meet demand in the future," he said.

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